County resource guide

Okeechobee County, Florida

Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Okeechobee County. Florida statewide resources also apply.

Local providers

13 listed

Diagnostic clinics

Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.

Okeechobee

Raulerson Hospital — Developmental Referrals

Okeechobee County's hospital offering basic pediatric care and developmental referral coordination. For comprehensive autism evaluations, families travel to Port St. Lucie (1 hr) or Fort Pierce. FAU CARD telehealth is the most accessible initial resource.

Ages 0–18(863) 763-2151

Rural agricultural county — plan to travel to Port St. Lucie or Fort Pierce for comprehensive autism evaluations.

Early Intervention (0–3)

Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.

Sebring · multi-county

Early Steps — Heartland Region (Highlands County)

Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Highlands County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C — the home-based model is the primary EI delivery method in this rural inland county.

Ages 0–3Accepting new patients(863) 386-6115

FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted.

Port St. Lucie · multi-county

Early Steps — Treasure Coast (Region 15)

Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 with developmental delays, including autism risk. Services in St. Lucie County include speech, OT, PT, and developmental therapy delivered where the family lives.

Ages 0–3Accepting new patients(772) 462-1710

FREE if income-eligible; sliding scale otherwise. Self-referral accepted — no doctor's order required.

Okeechobee · multi-county

Early Steps — Treasure Coast Region (Okeechobee County)

Florida's Early Steps program provides free in-home early intervention for children birth–3 in Okeechobee County. Home-based speech, OT, and developmental therapy under IDEA Part C — the home-based model is the only practical EI delivery in this rural county.

Ages 0–3Accepting new patients(863) 763-6050

FREE if income-eligible. Self-referral accepted — no doctor's order required.

ABA therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.

Sebring · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Highlands County (Telehealth/In-Home)

Telehealth and in-home ABA therapy for Highlands County families. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid accepted. Local ABA providers in Highlands County are extremely limited — telehealth parent coaching and possible travel to Fort Myers or Tampa are the realistic pathways.

Ages 2–21

Very limited local options. Telehealth is the primary ABA model. Accepts FL Medicaid.

Okeechobee · multi-county

Autism Learning Partners — Okeechobee County (Telehealth)

Telehealth parent coaching and in-home ABA therapy for Okeechobee County families. BCBA-supervised with Florida Medicaid accepted. Local ABA providers are effectively non-existent in Okeechobee — telehealth parent coaching and travel to Port St. Lucie or Fort Pierce are the realistic pathways.

Ages 2–21

Very few local providers. Telehealth is the most accessible first step. Accepts FL Medicaid.

Advocacy & legal

Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.

Boca Raton · multi-county

CARD at Florida Atlantic University

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties. Family consultation, school support, and provider training at no cost.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(561) 297-2023

FREE. State-funded. The first resource call for Broward and Palm Beach families.

Sebring · multi-county

CARD at Florida Atlantic University — Highlands County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Highlands County through the FAU CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and resource navigation for Sebring and Avon Park families at no cost. Highlands County is a rural inland county — CARD telehealth consultation is the most accessible first resource.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(561) 297-2023

FREE. State-funded. Highlands County is rural — CARD telehealth consultation is the most accessible first step. Fort Myers and Tampa are the nearest major provider hubs.

Vero Beach · multi-county

CARD at Florida Atlantic University — Indian River County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Indian River County through the FAU CARD Treasure Coast region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, school support, and community resources at no cost to families.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(561) 297-2023

FREE. State-funded. FAU CARD serves the entire Treasure Coast — request an Indian River County consultant.

Stuart · multi-county

CARD at Florida Atlantic University — Martin County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Martin County through the FAU CARD. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, school support, and community resource navigation at no cost. FAU CARD covers the full Treasure Coast region.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(561) 297-2023

FREE. State-funded. Request a Martin County consultant when you call.

Okeechobee · multi-county

CARD at Florida Atlantic University — Okeechobee County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving Okeechobee County through the FAU CARD Treasure Coast region. Family consultation, IEP advocacy, and community resources for Okeechobee families at no cost. Okeechobee is an extremely rural agricultural county — CARD is the essential first call.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(561) 297-2023

FREE. State-funded. Okeechobee County is very rural — CARD telehealth consultation is typically the first and most accessible resource.

Port St. Lucie · multi-county

CARD at Florida Atlantic University — St. Lucie County Services

Free state-funded autism resource center serving St. Lucie County through the FAU CARD Treasure Coast region. Family consultation, school advocacy, IEP support, and community resource navigation at no cost.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(561) 297-2023

FREE. State-funded. Port St. Lucie is one of Florida's fastest-growing cities — call early for consultant availability.

Okeechobee

Family Network on Disabilities — Okeechobee County

Free special education advocacy for Okeechobee County families through Florida's federally funded PTI. FND helps families navigate IEP processes and IDEA rights in a rural county with limited local disability services. Phone support available.

Ages All agesAccepting new patients(863) 763-9609

FREE. Federally funded PTI. Phone and remote support primary for this rural county.

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